Locomotive tank filling nozzle



June 24, 1958 Filed Oct. 5, 1956 R. v. KLIKUNAS ETAL LOCOMOTIVE TANKFILLING NOZZLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

RICHARD V. KLIKUNAS DONALD L.B|LLIAN H AWL; 4 M W ATTORNEYS June 24,1958 R. v. KLiKUNAS ETAL Q 2,840,122

- LOCOHQ'I'IVE TANK FILLING NOZZLE v Filed Oct. 5, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Q o 3 l I! 2 4 a 2 A I 7 d) I i l l| u II E ll v i -41 ll v II I i i \li 4 N r I K, u' 2 Q IL 7 I I .U I INVENTOR. RICHARD V.KLIKUNA$ B DONALDL.BILLIAN ATTORNEYS June 24, 1958 R. v. KLIKUNAS EAL 0,

LOCOMOTIVE TANK FILLING NOZZLE Filed on. 5, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR. RICHARD V.KLIKUNAS DONALD L.B|LLIAN AT TORN EYSf'uellbnewhateyerifluid-z 'flowingiof Ea.-tank\' of, this naturewhenanautoniatic nozzle U ited States Patent 9 2,840,122, L GQMQIIYE TANK.FILLING NOZZLE Application October 5, i956, Serial No. 614,309

' Claims. ci. 141-207 This inyention relates to an;app aratus fordispensing fluids, particularly fluid dispensing nozzles and to acombination thereofwith a tank inlet fitting arranged to cooperate withthe nozzle.

In the ha n dling of many fluids, such as fuels andthe like, thdispensing is accomplished by Way of a flexible hose having 'a' 'nozzleso that the" hose can be connected with a tank that is to receive theliquid. In certain cases, such "as in connection with automobiles andthe like, the nozzle can be inserted directly into the tank inletopening but, in other cases, and in particular instant in connectionwitha diesel locomotive fuel tank or the like the tank inlet openssubstantially horizontally out the side of the frame of the locomotive,and because of this the nozzleis attached to an adapter member locatedat the outer end of'the tank inlet fitting,

Other fluids are also adapted for being handled in this manner, and inconnection with substantially all cases where fluids are being dispensedfrom a flexible hose or the like via a nozzle'it'is a desirable featureto have the nozzleso arranged thatlit will shut oif automaticallywhenever the liquid reaches a predetermined level in thetankjorcontainer being fille dt 7 Such nozzles-are knownand are shown,for example, in Patent Nol 2,320,033 to'DaVi s and in the copendingapplication, Serial No. 573,239 filed March 22, 19 56, in the name ofCarl E. Denlinger, and assigned to the same assignee as the instantapplication.

In general, these automatic nozzles Operate by creating a: partialvacuum within the nozzle in a'venturi section therein, which vacuum isapplied-to a diaphragm which, when flexed under the influence ofthevacuum so appliedbperrnitsthe nozzleto trip closeda Thevacuum isrelievedby a relief tube extending from the diaphragm along the nozzlitothelevel that it is desired to fill the tanker container; and,--inmanner, the tripping closed of the nozzle occurs automatically when theliquid level reaches the end of the vacuum relief tubing and cuts ofi-"Inutilizing a'nozzle of this nature inconnection withcertaintypes'oftank s and containers, such as theloconiot'ivefneltarik:referred to"abo ve, a certain problem existson account of the'elongated horizontal; nature of the tank inlet fitting? Under these'circiirnstances, it is not feasible to so 'constructthe n 'ZZIe-that--the vacuum-relief tube can be carried directly thereby, and be placedWithin the tank when 'theTnozzle is "connected-with the tank.Accordingly, 'the advantages of automatic nozzles of this naturehavewnotheretofore been available for use; in these circumstances;

This lack of an autom atic shut-olf nozzle' is of relativlysei iouconsequences because even under the best circumstances there:is -apt.tofbeconsiderable spillage of fbeing dispensed-due .to the.overis.,,us ed. ;v lf the; liquid;-is-. an;oil, it :is particularly,objec- 2. deterioration of wood and rubber, and the like, on which thefuel oil might show, or on account of the personnel hazards that arecreated due to slippery footing and due to stream polution and for otherreasons of this nature.

Having. the foregoing .in mind, it is aparticular object of thepr'esentinvention to provide an arrangement whereby an automatic nozzle of thenature referredto can be availed of in connection with tanks andcontainers and the like, whereinit is not possible for the vacuum reliefreferred to, to be carried directly by the nozzle for insertion into thetank.

A still furtherv object of this invention is the provision of a specialadapter memberfori being mounted in the inlet of a tank or. containerwhich carries at least apart of the vacuum relief tube, and which isautomatically connected withthe. vacuum, relief tube in the nozzle whenthe nozzle is attached to the, fitting.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of an inletfitting for a locomotive tank, or the like,

which will permit filling of the tank according to conventional' fillingsystems, and which will also permit filling of the tank by means of anautomatic nozzle of the naturereferred. to.

In the case of certain fluids, and of which fuel oil and whiskey and thelike are examples, considerable foaming accompanies the, fillingoperation; and, this foam, particularly where it is in the form of finebubbles or where the, bubbles are enclosed by strong film, will trip thenozzle closed when the end of the vacuum relief-pipe is covered by thefoam,- rather than the nozzle continuing to remain open until the vacuumrelief pipe, is closed by the fluid proper.

The disadvantages of such a false tripping of thenozzle will be, evidentbecause the containers beingfilled will vary as to their contents, asvwell as containing considerably less than they should; and, in thecase-of a locomotive there may be a substantial difierence between thedistance the locomotive may travel with a properly filled tank and-the}distance it will travel under theconditions referred to above with thenozzle being falsely tripped.

Accordingly, a still further object of the. present invention is toprovide an automatic fillingnozzle of the type which is vacuumetrippedwhichis insensitive to foaming of the liquid being dispensed within thecontainer or tank beingfilled.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a simple arrangementadapted for use in connection with anytype, of vacuum-tripping nozzlewhich will nullify the effect, of foaming of the liquid being dispensedwhereby to provide tripping of the nozzle at exactly the proper liquidlevel within the tank or container being filled;

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will becomemore, apparent upon reference to the following specification taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a sectional view through a nozzleconstructed according tothe present invention;

Figmre 2 is a sectional viewv taken through a locomotive tank inlet fillshowing one, of the particular instances in which the nozzle accordingto the present inventioncan be employed, and also illustrating anadapterfitting according to the present invention; r

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view showing the nozzle connected withtheladapter fitting so that the tank can be' Body It} has a passagetherethrough leading from conduit 12 to a dischargetube 1 4, The,passage, comprises a valve seat 16 adapted for engagement by areciprocal valve member 18. Valve member 18 comprises a portion 20extending beyond the valve seat, and which forms with the=channelextending through .the valve body a venturi portion along the channelimmediately downstream of the seat. This venturi portion has an annulargroove 22 therein communicating with a chamber 24 which is closed by adiaphragm 26 spring-urged upwardly by a spring 28.

The valve member 18'previou'sly referred to hasconnected therewith astem 30 connected at its outer end to a manually operable lever 32whichhas its lower end adapted for being latched into an open position as bythe shoulders 34 provided in the frame of the nozzle within which thelever 32 is swingable. I.

The upper end of lever 32 buts the outer end of a plunger 36, whichcarries. at itsopposite end a block 38 having an L-shaped slot 40therein. The short leg of the L-shaped slot toward the left end of block38 is arranged for receiving rollers 42 which are carried on a secondblock 44 that is connected with the upper surface of the previouslymentioned diaphragm 26.

- The plunger 36 is spring-urged rightwardly by a cornpressionspring46,1and valve member 18 is spring-urged fleftwardly towarditsclosedposition by a substantially stronger compression spring 48.

The chamber 24 beneath diaphragm 26 that is in communication withannular groove 22 that is in communication with'the venturi section ofthe flow channel through thefnozzlehas also connected therewith a vacuumrelief tube 50 whichleads along discharge conduit 14 to be connected topassage 52 in a connector member 54 mounted on the outer end ofdischarge conduit 14.

Passage 52'communicates with'an annular groove 56 opened inwardly of acentral recess 58 in connector member 54 between the spaced rings 60also located within the said recess. i

.Rotatably mounted on the outer part of connector member 54 is a ring 62comprising at least one circumferentially projected finger 64 and atleast one spring-pressed plunger 66.

The nozzle, of Figure 1 when closed and in its normal condition is as itis shown in Figure 1. When the nozzle is open, the level 32 may belatched against either of shoulders 34, thereby to move the valvemember18 away from itsiseat. At this time, rollers-42 prevent movementof plunger 36. Y f i The fluid passing through the flow passage of thenozzle will create a vacuum in the venturi section thereof which willcause air to be drawnfrom chamber 24. This will create no substantialreduction of pressure within the chamber so long as'the'vacuumrelieftube 50 supplies air to the chamber.

However, when the supplyof air to the vacuum relief 1 'tube 50 is cutoil, the pressure within chamber 24 will drop until diaphragm 26 flexesdownwardly, thus pulling block 44 downwardly and moving rollers 42downwardly into the long pa-rtof the L-shapedslot 40 in block 38; and,

this will permit spring 48 to snap valve member'18 closed against theinfluence of the lighter spring 46.

Referring to the structure illustrated in Figure], there is showntherein fragment of a locomotive fuel tank structure in which the tankis provided with an inlet fitting 68 whichextends out horizontallyfromthe uppermost por 1101! of the tank atone side thereof and terminates inan internally threaded ehdportion 70; and, portion 70 is located withina cup 72 secured to the side frame74 of the locomotive.

7 According 'to this" invention, 'a'bushing" ring 76 is. threaded intothe end ofthe inlet fitting, and in turn has threaded therein an adaptermember 78 which h'as rotat-. ably supportedtherein a sleeve-like'element 80 which is retained in position withinlm'ember 78'by retainingscrew 82 while being sealed to the internal surface of member, -78 bytherubber-like 0 rings 84 disposed between the sleeve and the'saidmember as illustrated.

The sleeve-like member carries a first tube 86 that extends inwardlyalong the inlet fitting 68 and down into' the interior of the locomotivetank below the level to which the tank is to be filled. This tube 86 maycommunicate with the groove 88 into which the screw 82 extends, and thisgroove is vented to the atmosphere via port 90 which preferably opensdownwardly.

In the region of the level to which the tank was to be filled, a secondtube 92 is connected with tube 86 and this second tube 92 also extendsto sleeve No.80, and is connected therethrough with annular groove 94located between a part of the previously mentioned sealing 0 rings 84and communicates via port 96 in member 78 with an annular groove 98about the outer periphery thereof.

Under normal conditions, the outer end of the adapter fitting describedabove is maintained closed by a cap 100 fitting about the outer end ofthe adapter fitting and sealed to the outer surface of member 78 as by 0ring 102. The cap comprises a portion 104 which will cover port 90 whenthe cap isin position on the adapter member, and also comprisescircumferentially extending finger means 106 adapted for engaging one ormore of the lug means 108 extending radially outwardly from member 78;and, also, comprising springpressed plunger means 110 by means of whichthe cap is retained in locked position with'the said lug means.

The extreme outer end of cap 100 is provided with a threaded plug 112which is adapted for being removed therefrom, so that the tank can be.filledby a conventional filling system if desired. v v

When the tank is to be'filled by an automatic nozzle according to theteachings of the present invention the entire cap is removed from theadapter fitting and the nozzle of Figure hor a like nozzle, isconnectedtherewith as is illustrated in Figure}. 7 p v As will be seenin Figure 3, when the. nozzle of Figure 1 is mounted on the adapterfitting of Figure 2, the port 90 in the adapter fittingis left opentothe atmosphere while the annular groove 98 ,oftheadapter fitting thatis connected withtube 92 is in communication with the annular groove 56in the member. 54 on the end of the nozzle, and is thus in directcommunication with the tube 50 within the nozzle. l 7

It will be evident that the rubber-like 0 rings 60 carriedin the recess58in the member 54 seal about ,the adapter fitting on opposite sides ofthe groove 98 ,or the other of shoulders 34. The dispensing of fluidthen commences, and simultaneously with the flow of fluid through thenozzle there, is a condition of subatmospheric pressure.created.withingroove 22 which is communicated .with chamber .24. beneath diaphragm 26.

This vacuum. is continuously relieved 'via r tube 50, passages 52, inletgroove 56 and 98, port 96, groove 94,

.tube 92 and tube 86, so long as the extreme innerend ,of tube 86remains uncovered. When fluid .rises within the tank being filled tothe. point that it covers the inner end of tube 86, the relief of thevacuum will be interrupted and the diaphragm 26 will be drawn downwardlyto trip the nozzle closed. This is the operation that ohtains when thetube 86 is not'vented to the atmosphere as by means of groove 98 andport 90.. 70'

i fuel oil and the like, the fillingof a tank or container is-accompanied by some considerable foaming ofthe liquid.

It1has been found,'however, that with liquids such as When a liquid ofthis nature is being handled, the foam,

which is sometimes relatively dense, will rise up and cover the end oftube 86 closing it 08 and tripping the V nozzle closed when the liquidlevehis substantially beneaththe desiredlevel.

By extending the tube 86 to the atmosphere viaport 90, as is shown,thisfalse tripping of the nozzle is eliminated because the foam will notrise within tube 86; but, within this tube, instead, will'be a truesolid column of liquidhaving the same level as the true liquid levelwithin the tank. When this true level withintube 86 rises to the pointwhere it cuts off the supply of air to conduit 92, the nozzle will tripclosed and interrupt the supply of liquid to the tank. Itwill beapparent that this arrangement gives a true point of trip-off'that-canbe depended on regardless of the foamingcharacteristics of the liquidbeing dispensed.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present inventionprovides a means forutilizing the advantages of an automatic trippingnozzle in connection with existing tanks which are of such-a naturethatpthe vacuum: relief tubing cannot be carried directly by theautomatic nozzle itself.

This invention provides, in this connection, a special type of nozzleand a special adapter fortanks or containers of the ,nature referredtosuchthat a portion of the vacuum relief tube is permanentlyfixedwithin the container tobe filled, and the remainder thereof iscarried by the nozzlein connection between the, portion of the tubing iseffectedautomatically when thenozzle isattached to the tank orcontainer.

This invention provides as. afurtherimprovernent and refinement of thephase of the inventionidentified above, an arrangement whereby falsetripping of the nozzle. is prevented, and insures that the nozzle willtrip closed only when the liquid levelin the tank or container beingfilled has reached the proper level.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modificationin order to adapt it to different usagesand conditions; and,accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this'invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.-

We claim;

1. Inanarrangement for operating an autom atic vacuum trip liquiddispensing nozzle by the liquid level in a tank of the nature described;a generally cylindrical adapter member adapted for being mounted in thefilling opening of the tank, a sleeve element within the adapter member,tube means carried by the sleeve and extending through the fillingopening and down into the tank, the end of said tube communicatingthrough the sleeve and adapter member with the outer surface of thelatter, an automatic vacuum trip nozzle having a fitting on the outerend adapted for telescopically fitting over said adapter member, avacuum relief tube in said nozzle running from the tripping mechanismthereof to the said fitting and terminating in an annular groove in thefitting which registers with the end of the tube in the said sleeve whenthe nozzle is mounted on the adapter member, and sealing rings in saidrecess on opposite sides of said annular groove.

2. In an arrangement for utilizing a vacuum trip liquid dispensingnozzle with a tank arrangement wherein the nozzle does not extend intothe liquid of the tank; an adapter member adapted for mounting in thefilling opening of the tank and having a tube extending into the tank, avacuum trip nozzle having a fitting arranged for detachable connectionwith said adapter member, a vacu um relief tube in the nozzle runningfrom the tripping mechanism thereof to said fitting; the said tubes inthe nozzle and in the adapter member being arranged to communicate whenthe nozzle is mounted on the adapter member, and means sealing thenozzle to the adapter member on opposite sides of the communication ofthe tubes with each other.

3. An arrangement for utilizing a vacuum trip nozzle with a tank whereinthe nozzle cannot normally be extended: into .the...liquid in theiankwhich comprises; an adaptermember. mounted inthe filling opening of thetank and having a tube extending into the tank to the level it isdesired'to fill the tank, a vacuum trip nozzle adapted fordetachableconnection with said adaptermem her and having a vacuum relief tubetherein adapted auto-. maticallyfor being coupled with the tube carriedby the adapter member when the nozzle is mounted on the adaptor member,and means sealing between the nozzle and the adapter member and onopposite sides of the communicating tubes to prevent leakage between.the nozzle and the .adapter member.

4.. An arrangement for utilizing a vacuum trip nozzle with a tankwhereinthe nozzle cannot normally be extended into the/liquid in thetank which comprises; an adapter member mounted in the filling openingof the tank and-having a tube extending into the tank to the level itis.de'sired to fill the,tank,'a vacuum trip nozzle adapted fordetachable connection with'said adapter member and having a vacuumrelief, tube therein adapted automatically for being coupled with thetube carried by the adapter member. when thetnozzle is mounted on theadapter member, and means sealing between the nozzle and thevadaptermember and on opposite sides of the communicating tubes to preventleakage between the nozzle and theadapter member, there being cap meansfor detachable engagement with said adapter member when thenozzle. isremoved therefrom and said cap means being sealed. to the adapter memberinwardly thereof from the point where the said tubes communicate.

5. An arrangement for utilizing a vacuum trip nozzle witha tankwhereinthe nozzle cannot normally beextended. into the liquid in the tank whichcomprises; an adapter. member mounted in the filling opening of the tankand having a tube extending into the tank to the level itis desired to.fill the tank, a vacuum trip nozzle adapted for detachableconnectionwith said adapter member and having avacuum relief tubetherein adapted automatically for being coupled with the tube carried bythe adapter member when the nozzle is mounted on the adapter mem her,and means sealing between the nozzle and the adapter member and onopposite sides of the communicating tubes to prevent leakage between thenozzle and the adapter member, there being cap means for detachableengagement with said adapter member when the nozzle is removed therefromand said cap means being sealedto the adapter member inwardly thereoffrom the point where the said tubes communicate, said cap comprising athreaded plug in the outer end for attachment thereto of a conventionalliquid dispensing hose.

6. In an arrangement for filling the fuel tanks of locomotives and thelike; an adapter member mounted in the filling conduit of the tank, saidadapter member comprising a tube extending through the conduit and thendown into the tank to the level to which it is desired to fill the tank,an automatic vacuum trip nozzle detachably mounted on said adaptermember, said nozzle having a chamber which, when subjected topredetermined vacuum, will trip the nozzle closed, and there being meansin the nozzle for producing a subatrnospheric pressure condition withinsaid means as liquid flows through the nozzle, and a vacuum relief tubeextending from said means to the end of said nozzle and thence to thesurface of the adapter memberwhere it communicates with the tube carriedby the said adapter member whereby the nozzle is automatically trippedclosed when the liquid level in the tank reaches the end of the tubetherein.

7. In an arrangement for filling the fuel tanks of locomotives and thelike; an adapter member mounted in the filling conduit of the tank, saidadapter member comprising a tube extending through the conduit and thendown into the tank to the level to which his desired to till the tank,an automatic vacuum trip nozzle detachably mounted on said adaptermember, said nozzle having a chamber which, when subjected topredetermined vacuum, will trip-the puzzle -closed; and there beingmeans in the nozzle for producing a sub-atmospheric pressure conditionwithin said means as liquid flows through the nozzle, and a-vacuumrelieftubeextending from said means to the end of said nozzle and thenceto the'surface of the adapter member vwhere itcommunicates with the tubecarried by the said adapteremember whereby the nozzle is automaticallytripped. closed when the liquid level-in the tank reaches the .end of.the tube therein, the said end of the tube being provided means forpreventing foam in the tank from producing a false tripping of thenozzle, said means 5 comprising a branch extending from' the-end of thetube downwardly to. a substantial distance below the said .liquid level,and: a

branch extending from the'said end=o the tube to the 7 atmospherewhereby thesaid end of the tube is not closed until the true liquidlevel of the tank rises to the proper point. r

8. An adaptermember for adapting. a' vacuum trip nozzle to a tank suchas a locomotive fuel .tank com+ prising a cylindrical member adapted:for being screw threaded intothe filling opening of the tank,-a sleeverotatably mounted within said cylindrical member, a tube carriedbysaidsleeve and extending inwardly and then angularly from the sleeveso that the tube will extend into the interior of thetank and then downtoward the liquid therein, an annular groove ta bove the outside of saidsleevemember with which the tube communicates, sealing means betweenthesleeve and cylindrical member onopposite sides ofthe groove, a grooveabout the outer surface of said cylindrical member communicating withthe said groove about the sleeve, and means for detachably connecting avacuum trip nozzle to said adapter member, said. meanscomprising meansto communicate the vacuum relief tube of the nozzle tripping mechanismwith the annular groove about the said cylindrical member.

9. An adapter member for adapting a' vacuum trip nozzle to a tank suchas a locomotive fuel tank comprisinga cylindrical member adapted forbeing screw threaded into the filling opening of the tank, a sleeverotatably mounted within said cylindrical member, a

tube carried by said sleeve and extending inwardly and then angularlyfrom the sleeve so that the tube will extend into the interior of thetank and then down toward thelliquidthereiman annular groove about theoutside of said sleeve member with which the tube communicates, sealingmeans between the sleeve and cylindrical member on opposite sides of thegroove, a groove about the outer surlfaceof said cylindrical membercommunicating with the said grooveabout the sleeve, and means fordetachably connecting a vacuum trip nozzle to said adapter member, saidmeans comprising means to communicate the vacuum. relief tube of thenozzle tripping mechanism with the annulargroove about the saidcylindrical mem her, there being cap means adapted for detachablymounting on the cylindrical member for closing the filling opening whenthe nozzle is detached therefrom.

10. In combination, with a tank having a fitting comprising a fillingconduit; antadapter member adapted for mounting in said fitting, saidadapter member being generally cylindrical and there being a tubecarried by the adapter member havingone. end extending into the tank tothe region of the liquid level desired in the tank the other end openingto the outer surface of the adapter member, a nozzle having an end partwith a cylindrical recess adapted for receiving theadapter membertherein, saidnozzle having a valve member normally closedand adapted forbeing latched open and there being a vacuum trip mechanism in the nozzlefor releasing the valve mem= her, a vacuum relief tube running from thetripping mechanism to the end of the nozzle and terminating in anannular groove about the recess that receives the adapter member tocommunicate the said tube with the tube carried by the adapter member,and sealing means between the nozzle and the adapter member on oppositesides of the region where the said tubes are in communication.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

